Wire cutter



Jan. 19, 1943. J; w. ssbpgs 2,308,684

' WIRE CUTTER Filed Nov'. 27, 1940 w A9 mmm lllllll/fl will/ms Invezdior: John W Geddes, a h e- Patented Jan. 19, 1943 g r WIRE CUTTER John W. Geddes, Watertown, Mass, assignor to H. K. Porter, Inc., Everett, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 27, 1940, Serial No. 367,392

1 Claim.

This invention relates to cutting tools, and the object is to provide a powerful and emcient tool suitable for military use for cutting barbed wire entanglements, although the qualities which make it suitable for such use also permit its advantageous application in peaceful pursuits. In certain of its aspects my invention may be considered as an improvement on the device shown in the patent of Francis T. Lind, No. 2,239,852, dated April 29, 1941, and provides a construction similar theret and for the same general purposes which is simpler and cheaper to manufacture.

My invention will be well understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, where- Fig. I is a side elevation of the tool in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a View of the parts of the cutting head separated and with part broken away and is on a larger scale; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and on the same scale as Fig. 2.

The tool shown by way of example in the drawing is a portable tool adapted to be operated by a grip of a single hand, yet sufiici-ently powerful to cut the heavy wire used in warfare. It embodies the head lever 8, preferably in the form of an integral forging, having the general form of an inverted J, the overhanging arm of which is provided with the downwardly facing cutting edge It). The longer arm of the J is terminally provided with the reduced ear 2% pierced with a hole It providing for the reception of a pivot pin 26 of an operating handle hereinafter more fully to be described. Cooperating with the head lever 8 is a companion member which herein comprises a part I5 which may be a simple, flat sided piece of suitable stee1 of generally oblong form, as shown, adapted to be received beneath the overhanging arm of the J and having at its upper end a cutting edge E5 to oppose the edge It), while its lower end is provided with a hole H to receive the pivot pin 25 of a handle. The member I5 is secured rigidly, as by means of a pair of rivets 2|, between a pair of cheek pieces l9 having portions 23, herein of a generally circular contour, which project or extend laterally of the member l5 and overlie the sides of the head lever 8 which is herein shown as provided with a central web 25 defining on either side thereof recesses in which the portions 23 are received, the margins 21 of the recesses being circular to provide a supporting bearing be tween the parts in their pivotal movement. A pivot pin M passing through the members 23 and the web 25, concentrically with the circular margins of the members and of the recesses,

joins them together. In the example of the invention shown the circular portions 25 extend over an arc of more than and they are assembled in their recesses by movement axial of the pivot line and the rivets 2| are applied after such assembly.

As is clearly seen in Fig. 2, the diameter of the projecting parts 23 of the cheek pieces is preferably such that they overlie the inner end of the cutting edge [6 and, in the assembled position of the parts, the inner end of the cutting edge I9 and they thus form abutments preventing the wire from passing too far between the jaws in such a manner as to jam.

The tool herein shown is of the compound lever type and comprises a pair of handles l8 pivoted together at 20 and pivoted at the pins 26 to the head lever B and the member I5 respectively, the pins passing through the holes I I and i1 provided for them. The cheek pieces l9 may be so formed as to present circularly curved surfaces 29 concentric with the pivot hole I! to support a correspondingly curved end portion of the handle l8 which is attached thereto, thus obtaining the support which in the case of the head lever 8 is provided by surfaces 3! formed as an integral part of the forging when the ear 24 is formed.

In the form of the tool herein shown the exterior of the head is formed as a relatively wide surface or tread 36 which, as the tool is thrust forwardly, shields the parts of the head rearward of the same, and it may be provided with an extending hook 38, the inner surface of which may extend outwardly substantially as a continuation of the edge It], by which hook the wire may be engaged and guided between the cutting edges of the tool.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claim rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

A tool of the class described comprising a head lever having a cutting edge and a central web pierced by a pivot hole and defining recesses at either face of the tool, the recesses having circular margins of more than 180 in extent, a pair of flat pieces received in and fitting against the margins of the recesses, a pivot pin passing through said pieces and the pivot hole, the pieces extending outwardly of the web and a blade received between them and secured thereto having a cutting edge cooperating with the cutting edge before mentioned.

JOHN W. GEDDES. 

